According to the National AIDS Coordinating Program (NASCOP), approximately 2 million Kenyans were infected with the HIV/AIDS virus by 2000. It is further projected that over 3 million Kenyans will be infected by the year 2005. This rapid escalation in the incidence and prevalence rates has had serious consequences on the country’s socio-economic development.
In response to this growing need, USAID Kenya Mission awarded Pathfinder International a $2 million grant to undertake a community-based HIV/AIDS care, support and prevention program (COPHIA) in five districts with high prevalence rates namely: Nairobi, Thika, Mombasa, Kakamega and Busia.
COPHIA focuses on home-based care and support for PLWAs and their families. The growing number of AIDS patients in Kenya and the high costs of hospital care for chronically ill patients who need a continuum of care dictates the need for comprehensive systems of home and community-based care and services for PLWAs and their families.
Prior to the implementation of the project, Pathfinder International conducted a community needs assessment to:
Determine the extent to which the community and households within the community are suffering under the burden of HIV/AIDS.
Understand how the community is currently coping with the threat posed by HIV/AIDS and other STIs and the increasing burden on the community posed by rising numbers of vulnerable households.
This presentation will discuss how to conduct a community needs assessment, the results of the assessment, and how the results were used to develop quality home-based care interventions.
Learning Objectives: By the end of the this session, participants should be able to: 1) estimate levels of vulnerability with regards to HIV/AIDS among households in a community setting, 2) identify the characteristics of vulnerable households, 3) identify various sources of assistance provided to vulnerable households through community structures i.e. church groups, women groups etc.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Home Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.